Figure 1.

A: Detection of TUNEL⁺-apoptotic cells in the salivary gland sections from Ovx- and Sham-B6 mice, but not from ERαKO mice, at 3 weeks after Ovx (arrows). Annexin V-flow cytometric analysis using MSG cells demonstrated 12.5% positive cells detected in Ovx-B6 mice, but 3.1% positive in Sham-B6 mice. Data are representative in triplicate. B: A significant increase of apoptotic epithelial cells was observed in the salivary gland tissues from Ovx-B6 mice, not from ERαKO mice, restricted at 2 and 3 weeks after Ovx. The percentage of epithelial cells staining positively with TUNEL was enumerated using a 10- × 20-grid net micrometer disk covering an objective of area 0.16 mm². Data were analyzed in 10 fields per section and expressed as mean percent ± SD in five mice examined per group. (*P < 0.05; Student’s t-test.)